EU LCS Players to Watch in 2018

Europe has built itself to be one of the most reputable names in the League of Legends industry. They’ve brought forth many top names that have not only made notorious reputations for themselves, but have also created a legacy throughout their career.Now that some of the top European names have gone to North America, a new wave of players are going to be introduced to the top ranking ladders of the EU LCS. Today, we’ll take a look at who’s going to make an impact next year and who will give you the most bang for your buck.

Jankos (G2 Esports)

Jankos has been deemed the “First Blood King”, and for good reason too. His aggressive playstyle, try-hard attitude, and love for his region has made Jankos one of the most popular names among the fans of the EU LCS.

He specializes in the current tank meta of jungler champions, ranging from his signature Zac to a sturdy Sejuani that’ll destroy almost any opposition Jankos faces. If he needs to, he’ll even bring out a Gragas pick that can be the key to his team’s victory.

Why do they call Jankos the “First Blood King?” It’s simple. He’s one of the most aggressive players in the game. His ability to power-clear without any trouble, and then put pressure on the lanes has made him one of the strongest early-game junglers in Europe.

Jankos has always been a successful member of each team was part of. He helped ROCCAT become one of the top names during the 2014 EU LCS Season. On H2K-Gaming, he helped them reach the 2016 World Championship where they lost to Samsung Galaxy in the Semifinals.

In 2015, he barely missed the World Championship with his team, ROCCAT, when they were defeated 2:3 by their opponents Origen. Jungle is a crucial part of League of Legends. It can be a key component to the team’s victory or defeat.

Jankos is one of the best junglers in the game due to his ability to secure key objectives and exert early game pressure. Because of this, he’s always been key to his team’s victories. Keep your eyes on Jankos next season. He’s been a threat since his debut on the scene and since then, he’s earned his title as the “First Blood King.”

PerkZ (G2 Esports)

PerkZ has become a deadly machine over the past few seasons on G2 Esports. Before he was on G2 Esports, PerkZ was mainly a notorious mid laner on the solo queue ladder. However, when he joined the competitive scene, PerkZ quickly became a force to be reckoned with.

He put names like Febiven and Ryu to the test, helping G2 Esports win the 2016 and 2017 Summer Split. In 2017, they managed to take the Spring Split title as well and then proceeded to make it to the finals of the Mid-Seasonal Invitational.

A large part of the team’s success can be attributed to G2 Esports’ PerkZ, whose mechanical skill and unpredictable actions made it almost impossible to lane against him. His ability to roam when his opponents least expected it, led to PerkZ becoming a major role in helping his team snowball.

While PerkZ may not seem that dangerous, trust me when I say he’s one of the deadliest mid laners to ever play in the EU LCS. He’s one of the reasons G2 Esports has become a top name in the EU LCS currently.

PerkZ is one of the most diverse mid laners in the field. He can play anything from a Ryze to a burst Cassiopeia. His ability to do this makes him not only a player with a large arsenal of picks, but he also has a diverse range of playstyles he can choose from.

I highly recommend you keep your eye out for PerkZ this year. He’s already made an impression in 2016 and 2017. With the way he’s going, he could help bring G2 Esports to Worlds in the 2018 Season. He’s done it before and he’ll probably do it again.

Hans Sama (Misfits)

If I told you in 2016, that Hans Sama would become a world-renowned AD Carry, you would’ve laughed. Now, Hans Sama has become a world-wide sensation. His quick rise to fame can be attributed to his consistent, yet aggressive, playstyle which helped bring Misfits to a tight five-setter with South Korea Telecom.

There’s a reason Hans Sama has become such a strong name in the EU LCS. His ability to play Jhin to the highest ability has made him a large threat throughout his career. Yet even with his pocket pick champion, Hans Sama has become renown for his ability to play a wide variety of champions.

At the age of fourteen, Hans Sama reached Challenger, something that only a small portion of the population can brag about. He’s been known to be one of the top Draven players in the European region and has made a reputation for himself as one of the best AD Carries on the ladder.

Thanks to his ability to range from burst AD Carries like Jhin to high-tier kiting champions like Kalista have made him a truly diverse threat.. The success of Misfits can largely be attributed to his highly-praised mechanical skill and PowerOfEvil’s highly-skilled gameplay.

However, in the 2018 Season, with PowerOfEvil moving to North America, it will be Hans Sama that will have to lead the team. It won’t be an easy task but with the way Hans Sama has been performing the past few months, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Hans Sama’s skill and mechanical prowess has turned Misfits from a Challenger team into a world-class competitor. Every month, Hans Sama shows more and more improvement on his game and for the upcoming season, he can make Misfits better than ever.

Rekkles (Fnatic)

Rekkles has become, what many consider to be the best player in the European region. His aggressive playstyle has been crucial to keeping Fnatic as a top competitor in the game of League of Legends. Rekkles’ constant push for perfection has crafted his game into something very few can match.

During his time with Fnatic, he managed to go to Worlds in 2015 and 2017. In 2015, his performance at the World Championship was so strong that even top names from Korea exemplified his performance. Very few have dared to go against Rekkles and it’s largely thanks to how Rekkles excels in every aspect of the game.

He holds an extremely diverse champion pool that, like Hans Sama and Perkz, makes him an extremely deadly, and diverse carry. He can play anything from a jumping and killing Tristana, to a long-range Caitlyn that can snipe anything down.

While there aren’t many names from North America and Europe who can compare to the skill of Korean and Chinese AD Carries like Uzi, PraY, and Bang, Rekkles is certainly one of them. During the 2017 World Championship, he went toe-to-toe with Royal Never Give Up’s Uzi.

He was a main reason why Fnatic managed to come back from a 1-3 deficit to win it all. His solo-carry potential has made him a high priority target in every single match up, but Rekkles doesn’t care. He can take anyone down, as long as they make the smallest mistake.

Rekkles is the definition of a one-man carry machine. His skill alone has provided for Fnatic in both the 2016 and 2017 season. Next year, with Fnatic signing the same roster, not only will Rekkles’ mechanics be there, his synergy with his teammates will be there as well.

The synergy between him and his teammates is crucial. It helps him snowball, and it helps him communicate with his team, so they will know when he’s going in. Next year could be Fnatic’s year and Rekkles will be leading the charge.

Vizicsacsi (Schalke 04)

Vizicsasci is an underrated top laner who has dominated the scene of the EU LCS. Largely in part to his ability to play large-scale bruisers like Renekton and Irelia. Vizicsasci may not be featured much by the EU LCS spotlight, but he certainly is there.

His time with Unicorns of Love found him helping the team qualify for playoffs as well as winning IEM Season 11 Oakland. A large part of his playstyle has been his ability to show up in teamfights and though he has a large specialization in bruisers, he can certainly bring out a Maokai if needed.

Vizicsasci brings a consistent playstyle to the table that not a lot of people have seen. Now, on a completely revamped Schalke 04 roster, Vizicsasci can prove that though he used to be the man behind the curtain, he’ll be the one on-stage when the climax hits.

sOAZ (Fnatic)

sOAZ is no stranger to both the EU LCS and the international stage. He’s played with Fnatic for several years and helped bring Origen to a World Championship semifinal debut. sOAZ can be unpredictable at times, doing what his opponents least expect. This is what makes him such a deadly player.

He’s always been a classic threat on the tank champions Maokai, Nautlius, and Shen. However, if needed, he can pull out a Gnar or Gragas that threatens anyone in his path. sOAZ has always been a top-notch player in the European region.

In 2015, during their match against South Korea Telecom, sOAZ managed to pull off an outplay that tricked even the top minds of Korea’s region. Now, with sOAZ returning to play with Fnatic for the 2018 Season, we can expect more from him than ever.

His unpredictable playstyle makes it impossible to map his movements, and he’s mastered every top laner needed in the current meta. Because of this, he could be a crucial piece of Fnatic’s success next year. While Rekkles may be the carry of Fnatic, sOAZ is the one that holds Fnatic on his shoulders.

You can expect a lot from sOAZ. Like Rekkles, he’s never been one to shy away from the fight. However, he’s willing to make the necessary sacrifices needed in order to ensure that his team wins. Because of this, Fnatic is going to be in good hands for next season.

Conclusion:

There you have it. These are the six players that you, as a bettor, should keep your eyes on. They’ve each pulled off significant accomplishments of their own and have become some of the top names in the European region.

If you’re looking for consistent, strong names that can represent Europe when the time comes, these are some of the names you should look at. Each of these players has become notorious for their playstyle, and are respected by Korean and Chinese players.

Europe is beginning a new chapter. Talented names like Zven, Mithy, and PowerOfEvil have moved to the North American region, leaving only a handful of strong players. However, if you know which players you should be looking for, your money will be in good hands.